There weren't many people in the county governor's mansion, and it was even quieter in the early morning. Xu Yu was walking on the way to Pei Ji's study, and suddenly saw two young men turning out from the corner of the corridor leading to the main door. One was wearing a dusk brown robe, and the other was wearing a grape purple robe. The two walked side by side, talking, and seemed to be leaving the mansion.
"Mr. Pei is here!" Zhu'er, who followed behind, called out softly.
"The one wearing the brown robe is Mr. Pei!" The maid was afraid that she had mistaken him for someone else, so she whispered in her ear.
"… Uncle He and I will take you out tomorrow. Uncle He will take you out of Ganliang, so I won't go far. If you need anything on the way, just tell me today."
"Just now Pei Gong said that if I'm not in a hurry, why not stay a few more days!"
"This place is poor and far inferior to Chang'an. Besides, you have important matters to attend to, so don't forget your father's instructions."
The sound of two people talking in the corridor drifted over faintly. Xuyu stopped and planned to wait until the two people on the opposite side passed before moving on.
Cheng Ping smiled and blocked Pei Xiaoyuan's way with his arms outstretched. "Pei Er, what do you mean? Why do I see that you can't wait to drive me away today?"
Pei Xiaoyuan walked past without stopping: "Nonsense!"
Cheng Ping laughed even harder, looking around: "Where does she live? It's fine if you don't ask me to meet her. At most, my sister-in-law will blame me for being rude in the future. I will bear the consequences if I pretend to be deaf and dumb just because we are separated by a wall. But you are different. You really don't want to see what she looks like at all?"
Pei Xiaoyuan ignored him and continued walking out.
"Why are you walking so fast? Are you afraid of meeting someone? I didn't believe it last night, but this morning, it seems to be true. If you didn't agree to the marriage reluctantly, how could you not care about what the woman looks like? She is the one who will share your bed in the future—"
Pei Xiaoyuan suddenly stopped, which scared Chengping. He stopped at the end of the corridor with a gloomy face, called his real name, and said in a low voice: "A Suan'er! This is the last time! If you talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being angry."
Seeing this, Cheng Ping quickly stopped joking and waved his hand, "Forget it, forget it, I won't see you anymore. I, an idle person, am more concerned about it than you, the owner! Let's go! I'll try my luck again today and see if I can shoot a purple fox. The mink tail on my quiver was worn out a few days ago and a piece is missing. I need to replace it as soon as possible, otherwise it won't look good."
Pei Xiaoyuan then smiled, "Okay! I'll lead you there, and you won't return empty-handed!"
Chengping dropped the previous topic, and the two of them walked quickly down the corridor and out of the partition door. They shouted to the servants outside, and soon a group of people came running over. Amid the chaotic sound of their boots tapping on the ground, they all went out and disappeared.
Zhu'er followed Xuyu and hid behind the wall, knowing that she had to wait for the two of them to pass before going to the county magistrate's study. At this moment, Pei Langjun and Hu'er had already walked away, but she was still standing there, as if concentrating on something. She didn't know what she was thinking about. Thinking of the words she had just heard, she felt uneasy in her heart. She held her breath and waited for a while, calling softly: "Young lady..."
Xuyu said, "I feel a little cold. Go get me a cloak."
There was wind in the morning, and it was indeed a bit chilly.